One of the best things this game has to offer is variety. Puzzles abound, many of them with creative implementations, and you'll even get to play a game of Battleship. Hidden-object scenes have different list formats to keep things fresh, from silhouettes to list formats where all the names are scrambled, and you'll travel to a lot of different locations to boot. That said, The Lily's Requiem is practically heaving with busywork that starts to grate early on. You need, for example, at the very beginning of the game, something inside a box. Only the box is locked with a special elaborate puzzle code lock even though it contains a vital piece of puzzle equipment. And the code is hidden in a high place. And to reach the high place you need to repair a ladder. And to repair the ladder you need to find something to hold the steps in place and then something else to hammer it in. Within the first five minutes of the game. There are so many instances like this, and even the game sheepishly pointing out how "odd" some of it is doesn't make up for it. Look, game, I'm already putting up with your freaky CGI cutscene people and crazy lip syncing... let's not push it.

The Lily's Requiem also dispenses with nearly all of the creepier horror elements and atmosphere from the previous two titles in the series, going for a more fantastical thank freaky approach. The story really is genuinely interesting, with some appealing twists on classic myths and legends, though its tendency to reveal things in brief fits and drop random plot bombs makes it harder to immerse yourself in it. Once the game moves past the first two areas, however, things begin to pick up considerably. You'll learn more about what's going on and begin to actually have a role in it, with a lot of wonderfully creepy-cool moments and even some interesting characters and mystery. Though as mentioned the CGI work in the cutscenes tends to look out of place, The Lily's Requiem is still a gorgeous game, thanks to a dark and dreamy quality to its art and environmental design. It's a title that probably needed paring down rather than padding when it comes to a lot of its gameplay (I need to break a lock to look into the uncovered bed of a truck?), but also one that manages to be more mystical and imaginative in ways that will appeal to players who don't enjoy jumpscares or more oppressive horror. Despite its rough edges, if you give it a chance to snare you with its song and judge it on its own merits rather than comparing it to Vanishing Hitchhiker, Poltergeist, or even Moonlit Grove, Shiver: The Lily's Requiem is still a creative and captivating title well worth checking out.

Note: Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It contains a bonus chapter, art gallery, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo Get the full version